State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
Texas Lawmakers React To Explosive Allegations in Lottery Scandal
A shocking report on children working as part of a $95 million lottery scheme is drawing scrutiny from members of both chambers.
House Records Reveal Lawmakers’ Taxpayer-Funded News Sources
Newly obtained records provide a closer look at the news sources Texas lawmakers are using taxpayer funds to subscribe to.
Attorney General Paxton Seeks Injunction Against NCAA To Protect Women’s Sports
Paxton said the NCAA’s policy “treats sex as a changeable characteristic determined by a birth certificate instead of biology.”
State Sen. Middleton Files Measure to Ban Taxpayer-funded Lobbying
Ending the practice is one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s top priorities for the 89th legislative session.
State Archive
Texas House Votes to Allow School Districts to Raise Property Taxes
Despite Texas voters’ clamoring for property tax relief, the Texas House is moving to make taxpayer burdens even worse by overriding the chamber’s Republican majority to advance legislation that will result in even higher taxes. And if taxpayers don’t speak up, the...
Texas Right to Life Calls for Action on Pro-Life Legislation
On Tuesday, Texas Right to Life joined State Rep. Matt Schaefer (R–Tyler) and the Texas House Freedom Caucus in demanding that House leadership allow pro-life legislation to come to a vote. While there are roughly 27 days left in the legislative session, lawmakers...
Conservatives Defeat Veteran Redefinition Bill
On Monday, the Texas House overwhelmingly rejected House Bill 206 by State Rep. Dan Flynn (R–Van) by a vote of 14 for and 112 against. Flynn’s bill would have redefined the term “veteran” to include members of the Texas State Guard. While the Texas State Guard is...
Geren Guts “Revolving Door” Ethics Bill
A key part of a landmark ethics reform package is being gutted and replaced with a bill that would actually decrease punishments for lawmakers who break existing ethics laws. A major goal of Gov. Greg Abbott, ethics reform died last session after lawmakers perverted...
Where’s the Governor?
Texans were spoiled by 14 years of a very active governor. For better or worse, one never wondered where former Gov. Rick Perry was or what his stance was on an issue. And lawmakers knew that if they didn’t deliver on his marquee items, he’d call them into special...
Buffett Bill’s Express Lane Shows Process Hypocrisy
Outrage over the Texas Legislature’s special treatment of billionaire Warren Buffett is percolating quickly through the grassroots. Critics are right to be upset, but not necessarily for the reasons that have been presented. Last week Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan...
The Texas Budget and Film Subsidies: A Refresher
Ben Affleck, the actor portraying the DC Comics vigilante Batman once said, “If you think Hollywood is depressing and corrupt, politics is really depressing and corrupt – and fueled even more than Hollywood by money – if that’s possible.” The fantasy caped-crusader...
Patrick Doubles Down: No Raiding the Rainy Day Fund
With debate over the Texas budget increasing in volume and intensity, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is digging in his heels and opposing efforts to drain the state’s savings account. In a video released today, Patrick threw cold water on the Texas House’s plan to pass a budget...
Conservatives Override House Leadership, Pass Strong Ban on Sanctuary Cities
After more than 16 hours of debate, the Texas House voted in the early hours of the morning to approve legislation to ban sanctuary cities and remove officials that refuse to cooperate in the enforcement of immigration laws. The legislation passed by a vote of 93-54...